Hungry for freshly prepared kebabs, hummus or falafel?
You're in luck: Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Middle Eastern restaurants in Pittsburgh. Through a combination of Yelp data and our own research, here's a ranked list of the best places to visit when cravings strike.
1. Istanbul Sofra
Topping the list is Istanbul Sofra. Located at 7600 Forbes Ave. in Regent Square, the Turkish restaurant is the highest rated Middle Eastern restaurant in Pittsburgh, boasting 4.5 stars out of 318 reviews on Yelp.
Menu offerings include Izgara Köfte (charbroiled ground lamb and beef patties seasoned with house spices), Turkish lamb chops and chicken adana (seasoned ground chicken cooked on skewers and marinated in Turkish spices).
Don't skip dessert: There's baklava (walnuts nestled between layers of phyllo pastry and topped with butter syrup), a semolina cake with orange syrup and walnuts and more. (See the full menu here.)
2. Salem's Market & Grill
Next up is the Strip District's Salem's Market & Grill, situated at 2923 Penn Ave. With 4.5 stars out of 173 reviews on Yelp, this Middle Eastern spot has proven to be a local favorite.
The restaurant is cafeteria-style and serves up gyros, kebabs, curry dishes and even burgers with a Middle Eastern flair.
The market part of the name refers to the shop right next door where you can pick up produce, canned goods and fresh meat from the butcher.
Yelper Ralph M., who visited Salem's Market & Grill on June 4, said, "A must for anyone who loves food. Favorite place in the city to eat. Chicken and rice and everything nice. The spinach is next level. And I can almost guarantee you never had a hamburger this good before."
3. Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine
The family-owned Alihan's Mediterranean Cuisine, located at 124 Sixth St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Mediterranean and Turkish spot 4.5 stars out of 168 reviews.
The house special is the Turkish-style falafel dish, featuring patties made of chickpeas and parsley and served with housemade tahini yogurt sauce over romaine hearts, tomatoes, cucumbers and black olives.
The restaurant also serves an assortment of kebabs, fish dishes and platters of sautéed chicken, shrimp, lamb and more. (See the full menu here.)
4. B52 Cafe
B52 Cafe, an American/Middle Eastern fusion spot in Upper Lawrenceville, is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 169 Yelp reviews. Head over to 5202 Butler St. to see for yourself.
The cafe sets itself apart from other Middle Eastern eateries in the city with its all-vegan menu. Offerings include moussaka (roasted eggplant, kofta, cashew cheese, seasonal vegetables and saffron rice), fried cauliflower with tahini and kebabs of flame-broiled seitan or tofu.
Housemade baked goods, chocolates and a full-service espresso bar are also available. (See the full menu here.)
5. Turkish Grille
Over in North Oakland, check out Turkish Grille, which has earned five stars out of 57 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Turkish, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean spot at 272 Melwood Ave.
Serving both lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers meals like lamb shish kebab marinated in Turkish spices, a gyro with thinly sliced seasoned chicken and kanat (grilled chicken wings). (Check out the full menu here.)
